Leathercraft basics - simple flat flower-detail slippers

Last week, we learned how to draft and sew a custom-fit slipper pattern, and how to sew leather. Today lets put them together, and make a simple pair of flat slippers. If you waterproof your leather, they can even be worn outdoors.

For this project you’ll need:

• Your slipper pattern
• Leather – enough thicker leather to cut 4 soles (or more if you want a thicker sole), soft leather sufficient for two uppers, in your pattern – plus scraps for decoration
• Waxed cotton thread and needle
• hole punch
• Strong craft scissors
• rubber cement (optional)
• tape – masking tape or electrical tape are ideal as they won’t leave glue behind on your leather

It will help if you’ve already tried making a pair of felt slippers, because with the leather it will be harder to adjust your pattern for fit as you go. Use the pattern you drafted and adjusted for your felt slippers.

Trace your pattern onto the back of your leather pieces, and cut out. On a smaller piece of leather, draw and cut out two flower shapes.

Begin by sewing the toe seams. Holding the edges of the notch together, punch lines of matching holes. Use a whip-stitch to sew the seams, working from the outside of the slipper.

It will be easier to add your flower now than to do it later. Layer the flower pieces the way you want them, and hold them to the upper where you want to attach them. Tape in place with electrical or masking tape. Punch two holes through all the layers, around 1cm apart, and sew into place, adding a bead or button to hide the stitch if you wish. If you start your sewing with a knot, hide the knot between the layers, as a knot on the inside may rub your foot.

Next sew the heel seam. Tape the edges together while you punch a line of holes through both sides, then either whipstitch the seam on the outside, or overlap the edges and do a running stitch first up, then down the heel seam, alternating direction so it looks like a solid unbroken line of stitches. Don’t sew the seam on the inside, unless you like blisters! For more complex shoe patterns, the heel seam would be covered or bound, but we’re trying to keep these simple.

Now to add the soles. You can sandwich the layers of the sole together with rubber cement, which will make them stronger. Two layers sandwiched with glue should be perfectly fine for outdoor wear, but if you have sensitive feet or are working with soft leather, feel free to add as many layers as you like. Carefully tape the upper to the sole, and punch holes all around. You may wish to trim the edges so they match up exactly. Again, you can choose to whip-stitch, blanket-stitch, or do a double running stitch around the outside of the slipper, depending on what effect you want. When you have sewn all around, sew a few stitches a second time to make the ends of the seam more secure.

Remove all the tape, and finish with a coat of waterproofing if you wish.

Congratulations, you made your first pair of shoes!

You may also like:

1. Simple leather flower hair accessory
2. Sewing leather – simple card-case
3. How to sew custom-fit felt slippers